All posts tagged: equipment

A personal trainer says you don’t need lots of equipment to strengthen your arms, legs and core—this workout targets the entire body using just one kettlebell

A personal trainer says you don’t need lots of equipment to strengthen your arms, legs and core—this workout targets the entire body using just one kettlebell

There are lots of advantages to working out in a gym, but it’s definitely not a requirement for building strength or improving endurance. I work with lots of my personal training clients who never set foot inside a gym. They don’t have tons of equipment at home, either. All you really need are a few versatile fitness tools—like a kettlebell or a dumbbell—and a little bit of space. Article continues below You may like When I’m working with an at-home client—or when I can’t make it to the gym myself—I fall back on the following full-body workout. It can take as little as 15 minutes to complete, and all you’ll need is a moderately-heavy kettlebell, like this 12lbs Amazon Basics kettlebell. Notify your doctor before starting any new activity. If you’ve recently begun an exercise program, consider meeting with a personal trainer for guidance on this workout. They can correct your form, offer modifications if necessary, and suggest alternative exercises that match your specific goals or concerns. How to do the full-body kettlebell workout In …

Best home exercise equipment for small spaces

Best home exercise equipment for small spaces

Latex bands have their place, but the fabric version is the one you’ll reach for on leg day. The woven construction means no rolling, no pinching, and no slow slide down your thighs mid-squat – problems that plague cheaper rubber alternatives. Mirafit’s set comes in three resistance levels (light, medium, heavy), all clearly colour-coded, so you can progress without guesswork. They’re compact enough to live in a drawer and tough enough for daily use. If you’re doing hip thrusts, lateral walks or glute bridges at home, these are the ones to have. Source link

Train driver dead and 16 injured after crash with lorry carrying military equipment

Train driver dead and 16 injured after crash with lorry carrying military equipment

A driver was killed and 16 passengers were injured when a high-speed train and a truck carrying military equipment collided in France. The crash happened on Tuesday just before 7am at a railway crossing in the town of Bully-les-Mines, authorities said. More than 200 passengers were on board at the time, with two people taken to hospital in a critical condition. The 56-year-old train driver was pronounced dead at the scene. An aggravated manslaughter investigation has now been opened and the driver of the lorry was held in custody. It is thought the train was travelling at an estimated 100mph at the time of the impact, which happened as they were travelling from Dunkirk to Paris, the regional administration, Francois-Xavier Lauch, said. Prosecutor Etienne Thieffry said it is too early to determine the exact cause of the crash. However, the railroad crossing gates were working correctly, according to Jean Castex, head of SNCF – the national railway authority that operates nearly all rain transport in the country. Rescue crews were still at the scene on …

No fitness equipment? Try this high-energy step workout to boost balance, strength and stability

No fitness equipment? Try this high-energy step workout to boost balance, strength and stability

As soon as the sun comes out, I love to take my workouts outdoors for a hit of vitamin D. The change of scenery and fresh air really energizes me. Plus, I don’t need any equipment, because I can use the steps in my yard to work up a sweat. Using a step provides an extra cardio challenge, boosting heart and lung health while improving balance, coordination and agility. It’s a great way to get a decent full-body workout without any equipment. If you don’t have any steps in your yard, you can use the stairs in your house or apartment, or try this aerobics step, which is currently on sale for under $25 on Amazon. Article continues below You may like To get you started, I’ve created a six-move step workout. All you need to do is set a timer for 30-second intervals, with minimal rest (10-15 seconds) in between exercises—this will keep your heart rate up. How to do the step workout Do each of the following six exercises for 30 seconds, taking …

No fitness equipment? Try this high-energy step workout to boost balance, strength and stability

No fitness equipment? Try this high-energy step workout to boost balance, strength and stability

As soon as the sun comes out, I love to take my workouts outdoors for a hit of vitamin D. The change of scenery and fresh air really energizes me. Plus, I don’t need any equipment, because I can use the steps in my yard to work up a sweat. Using a step provides an extra cardio challenge, boosting heart and lung health while improving balance, coordination and agility. It’s a great way to get a decent full-body workout without any equipment. If you don’t have any steps in your yard, you can use the stairs in your house or apartment, or try this aerobics step, which is currently on sale for under $25 on Amazon. Article continues below You may like To get you started, I’ve created a six-move step workout. All you need to do is set a timer for 30-second intervals, with minimal rest (10-15 seconds) in between exercises—this will keep your heart rate up. How to do the step workout Do each of the following six exercises for 30 seconds, taking …

I’m a fitness writer and my favourite Pilates equipment brand is offering up to 25% off in the Amazon Spring Sale

I’m a fitness writer and my favourite Pilates equipment brand is offering up to 25% off in the Amazon Spring Sale

I’ve been doing Pilates for years and I think it’s the best workout for building core strength and preventing injury. You can do it without any equipment, which is why it’s such a great home workout. But investing in a few products can significantly improve your home Pilates practice, particularly if you’re new to Pilates and need to modify some movements or need help with your form. My go-to brand for Pilates gear is BetterMe. It offers all of the Pilates essentials in stylish colours and sleek designs. And some of its products are up to 25% off on Amazon right now, as part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Whether you’re looking for a Pilates ball to help you work on your alignment, ankle weights to build strength or a Pilates ring to improve muscle engagement, BetterMe has a wide range of equipment in a variety of colours. It also offers starter kits, such as a beginner’s Pilates set and a set with extra equipment if you’re ready to level up your practice. Below …

I’ve been doing Pilates for years and some of the best equipment for home workouts is heavily discounted in the Amazon Big Spring Sale

I’ve been doing Pilates for years and some of the best equipment for home workouts is heavily discounted in the Amazon Big Spring Sale

You’ve probably heard about the benefits of Pilates—it can help you build strength, improve your mobility and work on your posture—but perhaps you don’t know where to start with this form of movement. You’ll be glad to know that you don’t need an expensive membership at a workout studio, or access to a Pilates reformer to get the most out of it. In fact, as someone who has been doing Pilates for years, I think the best place to start is in your living room. You can do Pilates with just your bodyweight and there are plenty of workouts available on free Pilates YouTube channels to help you get started. However, incorporating some equipment can not only enhance the benefits of Pilates, it can make it easier to get started as a beginner, allowing you to modify certain exercises to your level. The Pilates ball is a particularly useful piece of kit for improving your alignment. And a block is equally helpful for supporting you in some moves, while challenging your stability in others. If …

No equipment? This beginner-friendly workout slows things down to help you build strength without weights

No equipment? This beginner-friendly workout slows things down to help you build strength without weights

My car broke down recently, which meant I had no way of transporting weights to my weekly circuit training class, so I had to design a workout that used minimal equipment. The solution? Introducing isometric holds and tempo training. Isometric holds are exercises in which you hold a position rather than use movement. To put it technically, it’s an exercise that involves static muscle contractions without joint movement—such as planks and wall sits. They are often used in rehabilitation, pain management and stability training because they reduce joint impact while strengthening supporting muscles. The low-impact nature of isometric holds makes them ideal for beginners and seniors, or people recovering from injury. Article continues below You may like Alongside the isometric moves, I added tempo training, tempo simply referring to the speed at which you perform the movements. A slower tempo increases the time your muscles are under tension, which makes the exercise harder—building strength, muscle mass and body control without the need for heavy (or indeed any) weights. When you slow down an exercise move, …

Tesla (TSLA) reportedly in talks to buy .9B in Chinese solar equipment for 100 GW US push

Tesla (TSLA) reportedly in talks to buy $2.9B in Chinese solar equipment for 100 GW US push

Image: Tesla Elon Musk’s plan to build 100 GW of solar manufacturing capacity in the United States just got its first major price tag: $2.9 billion in equipment from Chinese suppliers, according to a Reuters exclusive. If the deal closes, it marks the biggest concrete investment yet in Musk’s solar ambitions, and a stunning reversal for a company that effectively abandoned its solar business just two years ago. The deal Reuters reports that the equipment is valued at roughly 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) and that Tesla is in discussions with multiple Chinese suppliers. The frontrunner is Suzhou Maxwell Technologies, a Shenzhen-listed company that dominates the global market for solar cell screen-printing production lines. Other potential suppliers include Shenzhen S.C New Energy Technology and Laplace Renewable Energy Technology. Advertisement – scroll for more content The Chinese companies have been told to deliver the equipment before this autumn, with at least two sources indicating it would be shipped to Texas. That aligns with Tesla’s expanding Texas manufacturing footprint, which already includes its Austin Gigafactory and a …